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Trichobezoar and Rapunzel Syndrome: When Nobody Comes to Rescue - a Review and Case Report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

T. Santos
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Infante D. Pedro Hospital, Aveiro, Portugal
N. Madeira
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Clinic, Coimbra University Hospital, Coimbra, Portugal
J. Ferreira
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Infante D. Pedro Hospital, Aveiro, Portugal
C. Vicente
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Infante D. Pedro Hospital, Aveiro, Portugal
J.F. Pires
Affiliation:
Department of General Surgery, Infante D. Pedro Hospital, Aveiro, Portugal
G. Molinar
Affiliation:
Department of General Surgery, Infante D. Pedro Hospital, Aveiro, Portugal
J. Noronha
Affiliation:
Department of General Surgery, Infante D. Pedro Hospital, Aveiro, Portugal

Abstract

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Trichobezoar was first described by Baudomant in 1779. This rare entity consists of a compact mass of hair occupying the gastric cavity to a various extent. When the trichobezoar extends past the duodenum it is better referred to as Rapunzel Syndrome.

It is only reliably diagnosed by CT scan and its size may require removal by open surgery.

Albeit trichobezoars are well described in terms of surgical diagnostic and procedure, there are only but scarce reports on psychiatric literature. It is estimated that 30% of cases of trichotillophagia are of patients suffering from tricotillomania, and that 1% of those will eventually require surgical treatment.

The authors report a clinical case of trichobezoar without known trichotillomania, and revise the existing relevant literature, focusing on psychiatric evaluation and management.

Type
P02-41
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2009
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